Larry Leach will get up by 6 a.m. on the 881-acre farm in Climax that his family has owned since the 1930s.

He will pack a truck with an assortment of vegetables, fruits and jams produced by Avalon Farms with help from other farmers through a community supported agriculture program. Then he'll drive to Festival Market Square, where his wife, Brigette, will set up a stand at Battle Creek's Farmers Market.

"There's a lot of prep work," Leach said. "It's a job. But it's also a lifestyle."

The Battle Creek Farmers Market opens for the season on Wednesday, offering Michigan-grown or processed goods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, cheeses, honey, maple syrup, baked goods and flowers.

Avalon Farms is one of the many local vendors that will be on site throughout the season, which runs through September. The market is open each Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Leach said Avalon Farms began selling at farmers markets in 2000. The majority of its business now comes from the markets in Battle Creek, Bellevue and Vicksburg.

"We have really good sales Wednesdays in Battle Creek because you have all the Kellogg's employees down there," Leach said. "It's a madhouse. Working the stand, one person can't handle it alone."